Healthy Crock Pot & Slow Cooker Recipes and Tips

Featured Recipes

Here chicken thighs cook in a simple herb-infused tomato-and-wine sauce. The bone-in thighs give it plenty of hearty flavor, and since you cook them without the skin, it keeps the dish healthy. There’s plenty of sauce, so serve it over pappardelle or brown rice. Steamed broccoli or sautéed broccoli rabe tossed with olive oil and a splash of lemon juice complete the meal.

Traditional pulled pork is barbecued, which gives it a smoky flavor. But the slow cooker happens to be the absolute easiest way to cook pulled pork—and you can get a hint of smoke by adding chipotle chile. Serve the pulled pork with potato salad, collard greens and grits. Or make it into a sandwich and serve it on a bun with coleslaw.

Like most soups, this Moroccan lentil soup recipe gets better with time as the complex seasonings have time to develop. Make it a day ahead if you can—this easy slow cooker/crock pot recipe variation makes it a cinch to get the soup cooking while you do other things.

Chicken Pho, a classic Vietnamese soup, is a perfect recipe for a slow cooker. The chicken and seasonings of star anise, cloves and ginger simmer all day in the crock pot, welcoming you home with an alluring aroma. Serve with the essential garnishes for pho soup—fresh herbs, bean sprouts, chiles and lime—and let everyone top their own. Serve chile-garlic sauce for those who want more heat.

This healthy slow-cooker pinto bean stew recipe is bursting with veggies—onion, bell pepper, celery and corn—and topped with crunchy bits of radish and chile- and lime-flecked cornbread dumplings. If you’re pressed for time, skip the dumplings and serve this pinto bean stew straight out of the crock pot, topped with crushed tortilla chips and a sprinkling of Monterey Jack cheese. Make sure to soak your dried beans before using them in the slow cooker to ensure even cooking.

Crock pots are making a comeback, and for good reason. They do all the work and give you all the credit with their saucy warming suppers. Slow-cooked dishes are ideal for making ahead and reheating, and leftovers can be enjoyed for several days. And, a slow cooker provides advantages for healthy cooking by stretching small amounts of meat with flavorful sauces and a generous portion of vegetables. Dust off your slow cooker and try a few of these easy, healthy crock pot recipes.

Under "All Recipe Collections: Health Considerations", a category for "low cholesterol" would be very helpful. Thank you.

— Anonymous

12/01/2012 - 8:44am

You can omit the 3/4 cup of coffee when cooking this recipe for children. You can substitute it with a rich beef or vegetable stock.

— Anonymous

01/25/2010 - 11:26am

I wouldn't think so. I have a degree in nutrition, so I do know that people think it "burns off" just like alcohol, when in fact alcohol does not technically burn off, it is an allowable amount.......or restaurants couldn't sell these types of foods. If you have ever eaten coffee ice cream at night you will know it will indeed keep you up for hours! The same could happen with your toddler, so proceed with caution. Recipe looks good, though!

— Anonymous

01/23/2010 - 5:40pm

Question: Is this recipe suitable for 2-3 year old children? My inquire is because of the coffee content.